No one thought that the finish to the 2008 edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitational could be beat but this one surely gave it a run for it’s money. While wearing his usual Sunday red he came back from a 5 stroke deficit and once again win the tournament on the final hole. While Tiger did play very well, leading the tournament with putting hitting every putt under 6 feet in all 4 rounds, it was Sean O’Hair’s lack of confidence that left the door wide open. [Read more →]

Rain overnight and during the morning softened up the fairways and greens allowing the players to be much more aggressive and it certainly showed. The day started with just 5 players under par and ended with almost triple that amount. While Sean O’Hair was losing strokes many players that started the final round as far back as 7 strokes came within 2 of the lead, a testament to how much easier the course was playing.

While everyone around him found the course easier the final round leader just couldn’t seem to get out of his own way. losing 4 of his 5 stroke lead on the front nine including trading a bogey with a Tiger birdie twice. His strokes, unlike in earlier rounds, seemed very tentative and the more he tried to stay out of trouble the more he got into. His nerves were obvious when he yanked a 3 footer for par just past the inside of the cup and when he came up way short on a two tiered green after Tiger ender up past the hole in the rough.

It wasn’t until the 15 hole that Tiger was able to capitalize and gain a share of the lead with a long birdie putt. Then on the 16th O’Hair have Woods the biggest gift so far. He his approach shot onto the edge of the green and watched it roll back into the water. Just when we all thought he was going to start to pull away with his first lead of the tournament he hit his tee shot on the Par 3 17th right into the lip of the bunker. His only shot was to blast it out and onto the green having very little control of the roll. After O’Hair 2 putt for par Woods was unable to sink the long par putt and gave the stoke right back.They went to the 18th tied at 5 strokes under and both hit their approach shots onto the green leaving pretty lengthy birdie putts Woods was the only one able to convert winning his first tournament after coming back from his knee injury.

This should set up Tiger mentally and physically for a run at the Masters in the beginning of April. I’m not sure we could have asked for a better prelude to Augusta or a better ending to a tournament named for player who has had his fair share of exciting endings.

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